Michaela Meade
Broadmeadows’ Banksia Gardens is running another round of its program that puts young people at the front of climate adaptation.
Climate Adaptation Requires Youth Action (CARYA) aims to engage young people in and around Hume to learn about climate change and adaptation.
Sustainability education officer Taryn D’Costa said the program gave young people the support they needed to take action at a level where they could see change happen.
“It gives people the opportunity to be a part of something and to make it fun [and] to take action, at a local level,” Ms D’Costa said.
“When you live in the inner city, there are more opportunities to participate in climate change groups … this is a huge opportunity for us to support youth in the outer city to participate in that action.”
Ms D’Costa said that while the COVID-19 lockdown in metro Melbourne had halted the regular activities of the group this year, the program was still able to make its point.
“There’s a 10-week series of training workshops … and then a community initiative, which is run by the youth,” she said.
“It’s acknowledging that the climate has already warmed
“We want young people to feel like they have an understanding of all of these problems.
“We want to help [them] not feel overwhelmed by it, and to think about ways they can take action at that local level.”
CARYA members, when restrictions permit, also go on educational excursions.
Ms D’Costa said excursion highlights included; an e-bike ride from Broadmeadows to the ecojustice hub in Brunswick; visiting Nangak Tamboree wildlife sanctuary to learn about water testing; and visiting Altona beach to learn about microplastics.
Expressions of interests for the next CARYA program: forms.gle/yuhuJUKbUBXoHsL48
